The importance of the IAAF and IeSF partnership.

For a number of years, there has been a fair amount of speculation that certain games would make it into the Olympics. The most speculated about game titles in this regard are none other than League of Legends and StarCraft. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/08/15/league-of-legends-and-starcraft-ii-could-become-olympic-sports-as-early-as-2020-summer-games/).

Of course what a lot of the writers have glossed over is the way that the IOC works.

The IOC does not adopt events into the Olympic Games - that is not their way of doing things at all.

The way the IOC works is to allow member bodies to affiliate to the IOC. It is these international federations that control and administer the events that are then accepted into the Olympic Games.

Thus if rugby is ever accepted as a sport for the Summer Olympic Games, it will be the International Rugby Board that is first accepted as a member into the IOC before the game is accepted. Thus, it stands to reason that the IRB will assume full control over the conduct of the game at the Olympic Games as much as what FINA does for Aquatics, and the IAAF does for Athletics.

Thus, in order to get eSports into the Olympic Games, it is NOT the game title that will be accepted by the the IOC, but instead the international controlling body.

And who is the international controlling body?

Why, it is the International eSports Federation (IeSF)!

Such is the importance of the partnership between the IeSF and the IAAF.

Obviously the IAAF wants a 'fresher' appearance among its target market, but, at the same time, there is no doubt that the IAAF has realised the number of gamers that the IeSF reaches, as well as too realising that the IeSF is the international controlling body.

The fact that the IAAF recognises the IeSF paves the the way for many new opportunities for the IeSF and its members.

The recognition allows eSports to be seen as a valid sport, and why not, since the IOC itself has recognised mind sports as sports since 1999 (http://www.iol.co.za/news/back-page/judge-ends-game-of-bridge-confusion-1.1851440)?

Thus it seems as though the partnership will spawn a number of positive outcomes for eSports.

Of course those that will benefit the most will be members, so, if you are not a member, get on board quickly as the train is beginning to pull out of the station....

Types of organizations in eSports

Since an organisation is ultimately the result of societal needs and shares collective goals that are linked to both its internal and external environment, such organisations can take many different forms.

There are a variety of legal types of organisations (although we will only be looking at those used for eSports), however, since sport in South Africa is governed by the Sports and Recreation Act of 1988 (as amended), the types of organisations that may be used are regulated by South African law. Such organisations may be:

• companies, being associations incorporated in terms of the Companies Act,
• national federations made up of associations,
• provincial federations made up of associations,and
• clubs made up of associations or individuals.

Essentially, any organisation that does not have a constitution or founding documents in line with the South African Companies Act is either run as a partnership (if ownership is jointly claimed by more than one person, or as a sole-trader (if ownership is claimed by a single person). It is the constitution (or founding documents) that ultimately defines the organisation and spells out the nature of such organisation.

It is important to note that the owners of a partnership and the owner of a sole-trader are personally liable for all debts.

Organisations that are of a profit making venture 

These include:

• Sole-traders,
• Partnerships, and
• Companies that are of a profit making venture.

The above listed bodies are excluded from applying for the benefits that are listed below.

Organisations that are non profit organisations

These include:

• Non profit companies,
• Clubs, and
• Associations.

All of the above qualify for all the benefits as listed below.

Benefits of a properly Constituted organisation

The benefits that accrue to sole-traders and partnerships are indeed limited. Not only are the owners liable to be taxed in their own hands for all sponsorships and winnings, and are liable in their own right, but none of the benefits which accrue to properly constituted organisations can be accessed by sole-traders and partnerships.

The benefits which may be accessed by properly constituted organisations are:

• Local government funding,
• Provincial Government funding
• National government funding
• Jack Cheetham Award (R500,000.00 for the winning programme)
• Letsema Award (R500,000.00 for the winning programme)
• Funding from the National Lottery Trust Fund
• Participation in the S A Sports Awards
• Participation in Regional Sports Councils
• Participation in the Provincial Sports Councils
• Participation in Mind Sports SouthAfrica
• Limited liability for the members and office-bearers (depending on the Constitution)

Public Access to Information Act of 2000 (PAIA)

The Promotion of Access to Information Act was passed in 2000, its main aim is to allow members of the public to assert their right to information.

The Act requires that all public and private bodies register PAIA manuals. Certain levels of business may qualify for the further extension to 31 December 2015 while other still have to submit their manuals in terms of the legislation to the Commission.

These private bodies that have been granted the extension are those which operate in specific sectors, with 50 or more employees OR operate in specific sectors and have an annual turnover equal to or exceeding specific amounts.

According the SAHRC website, "while these private companies no longer have to submit manuals during the period of the new exemption they are not exempted from complying with the rest of the Act."

There are legal penalties that may be imposed for non-compliance.

List of National Organisations

Name of organisation	Type of organisation
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC)	Non Profit Company
Mind Sports South Africa	Association

List of other organisations

Name of organisation	Type of organisation
Knights Mind Sports Club	Association
Pretoria Boys eSports Club	Association
Roedean Mind Sports Club	Association
St John's Mind Sports Club	Association
University of Witwatersrand Wargames Club	Association